DIY Tonfa From PVC Pipe

Intro: DIY Tonfa From PVC Pipe

Summer has come. It's time for outdoor activity and sport. With me it's martial art. I'm practicing karatedo and taekwondo. My favorite weapon is tonfa. It can block as well as attack very effectively. I always dream a pair of tonfa and now I make a pair for myself to satisfy my dream.

STEP 1: Preparing

Basic tonfa made from oak wood but since I use it only for practicing and I'm a newbie, I choose PVC pipe. If you think it's weak, well, think again. I use this pair of tonfa to strike on wood block, steel bar and concrete floor but not even scratch (better than I expected). It also easy to replace if damaged, just use hot gun to heat up the join and it will lose out. So you'll need:

1. 2 meters of thick PVC pipe (21mm in diameter = 0.5 inch, normally used as home water pipe)
2. 6 PVC pipe caps. There are 2 (main) types of caps. If you choose square shape, takes 4 of them and 2 round caps. Pay attention on its size.
3. 2 tee-plan pipes
4. PVC glue
5. And a saw

Total cost is <3$

STEP 2: Measuring and Making

To choose your desire length which fit your arm, I recommend total length of tonfa is 2/3 of your leg's length. Then choose where to cut the pipe: it's should be more than a hand length for short end, and nearly a hand length from long end to your elbow. Short end is a bit longer than the handle.

After measure, mark position and use the saw to cut it.

Assemble all parts together before apply glue. Make sure it comfortable for you to use.

I have 2 sponger from a broken spring hand strengthener so I put them into my handle to easier to hold.

Apply glue and wait until it completely dry. You can put under sunlight for 30 mins or leave it 2 hours.

STEP 3: Action Time!

After it dry, I use it to strike on wood block, steel bar then concrete floor. It pass my test then I use it to practice. You can see how the wood block got damaged after 30 minutes of practice. The tonfa didn't damaged too much, just few scratchs. Hope you like this instructable and see you next time.

Bonus:Tonfa training techniques

Comments

[Darknessblade.]

maybe adding someting like weight inside it for more damage?

[chelseabun]

I have that question too. From my personal experience, I think adding more weight into the pipe make it heavier and your arm will tired quickly (I'm lack of experience). Using steel caps to make it heavier at both ends, make more damage but not too heavy to hold.

[nic.bryan.73]

Actually, for a training weapon, you want it to be heavier than the real thing. If you keep training with the extra weight, eventually the normal weapon won't weigh anything to you, and you have effectively improved endurance.

[chelseabun]

You say right but this isn't the case we have here. From informations I got from seller store, basic tonfa made from oak wood , which is about 500g each in weight (I bet that extra weight fit this weight) and modern tonfa is made from hard plastic (almost like police baton). Practicing with tonfa take lots and lots of technic, not only strength :)

[nic.bryan.73]

Yes, technique is the more important part. The reason for training with heavier weapons than the real thing is so your muscles build more endurance (think about it like a battery. Muscles that can perform those moves with a double-weight weapon for a given time can perform the same moves for double-time with the normal weight)

[chelseabun]

Yes it's true. Therefore we need to train our muscles for its strength and flexibility as well. But I think a bit of body workout is better. I do some at home (and yoga too)